Johnson Matthey opens first hydrogen internal combustion engine facility in Gothenburg
Press release, 13 December
Johnson Matthey (JM), the British sustainable technologies giant with a 200-year legacy, has officially launched its first dedicated hydrogen internal combustion engine (H₂ICE) testing facility at its Gothenburg, Sweden site — a bold move that could accelerate the transition to low-carbon heavy-duty transport. The facility, completed on time and on budget with a £2.5 million investment over three years, is designed to test full hydrogen-powered engines for medium and heavy-duty vehicles such as buses and trucks. It marks a major milestone in advancing hydrogen as a practical, lower-carbon alternative to diesel engines while leveraging established combustion engine technology.
Unlike electric vehicles or fuel cell systems that rely on new propulsion tech, hydrogen internal combustion engines use hydrogen fuel in traditional engine designs, offering fleet operators and manufacturers a potentially quicker route to reduce carbon emissions without completely reinventing existing powertrain architecture. At the Gothenburg facility, engineers will be able to test engines up to 600 kW (roughly 800 hp), alongside catalysts, after-treatment systems and emissions control processes that are crucial for real-world performance and regulatory compliance. The site includes a dedicated on-site hydrogen supply and storage area, complete with high-pressure compressors, intermediate storage tanks, flow meters, analysers, exhaust measurement instruments and advanced safety control systems.
The new centre expands JM’s already extensive test capabilities — which previously focused on diesel engine cells at the same site — and reflects a broader industry push to diversify hydrogen technology portfolios. Hydrogen internal combustion engines produce near-zero carbon tailpipe emissions, and when operated with green hydrogen, they can dramatically cut greenhouse gases while still delivering the power and durability demanded by heavy transport sectors. This approach is especially appealing in regions where developing full fuel cell infrastructure remains costly or slow.
Inaugurated by key executives including JM’s R&D Director and Gothenburg Test Centre Manager, the facility builds on the company’s earlier research collaborations, particularly Project Brunel1 — a multi-partner initiative with Cummins, PHINIA and Zircotec. That project, concluded in early 2025, provided valuable proof points in H₂ICE performance and durability, laying the groundwork for this larger operational test centre. Bringing the engine testing capability from prototype stages to full dedicated facilities signals increasing confidence in hydrogen as a near-term decarbonisation solution.
JM’s leadership underscores that this is more than a single lab opening — it’s a strategic step in positioning hydrogen internal combustion as a “ready-to-go” technology that complements other hydrogen mobility pathways such as fuel cells. According to the company’s Chief Technology Officer in Clean Air, the facility supports customers and technology partners who are actively seeking cleaner mobility solutions that can meet evolving environmental regulations and climate goals. Leveraging existing engine knowledge and hydrogen fuel could help bridge the gap between today’s diesel-dominated fleets and the fully electrified transport systems of tomorrow.
This launch also aligns with broader efforts in Europe and beyond to scale hydrogen infrastructure and usage across transportation sectors. Johnson Matthey is a founding member of the Global Hydrogen Mobility Alliance, a coalition of major automotive, energy and technology companies advocating for policy support and investment in hydrogen technologies. Collaborations like these, combined with new physical test capabilities such as the Gothenburg H₂ICE centre, are expected to accelerate the adoption of cleaner powertrains across heavy-duty transport, offering fleet operators a viable alternative on the path to net-zero emissions.
